Hermetic closure for receptacles.



PATENTED OCT. 10, 1905.

W. A. LORENZ.

HERMETIG CLOSURE FOR RECEPTAGLES.

APPLICATION FILED APR.11,1904.

Fig.1

M ZLZ/Lamv $.Loranza B My.

"ILLIAH A. LORENZ, OF HARTFORD, CONNECTICUT.

HERIVIETIC CLOSURE FOR RECEPTACLES.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented Oct. 10, 1905.

Application filed April 11,1904. Serial No. 202.502.

Be it known that I, 'ILLIAM A. LORENZ, a

citizen of the United States, and a resident of Hartford, in the county of Hartford and State of Connecticut. have invented certain new and useful improvements in Hermetic Closures for Receptacles, of which the following is a full, clear, and exact specification.

This invention relates to improvements in closures for the hermetic sealing of tumblers and other plain-rimmed receptacles.

The present closure now commonly used for the hermetic sealing of jars is known as a wedging closure," in which the cap is of a flaring or tapering form where it engages with the sealinggasket, the latter-being supported upon a shoulder or in a groove provided for it below the level of the rim of the jar and upon the inner or outer surface thereof, according as an internal or external cap is to be used. In either case, however, the shoulder unlits the receptacle for many subsequent household uses which might be served by a tumbler or mug having a plain rim; but the ditiicultv of employing these plain-rimmed receptacles in connection with a flaring cap and gasket has been thatthey afford no means for receiving and maintaining the cap or gasket in correct position upon the rim of the receptacle during the sealing operation.

viding a separate outer support for the gasket, which serves to centralize the gasket with that portion of the inner edge of the tumbler rim at which the seal is to be made and when used in cooperation with a flaring sealing-cap performs also the function of centralizing the cap with the gasket and tumbler in the de sired relative position, so that the gasket when thus making a reliable joint-closure upon the 5 plain rim of the tumbler. establishes a level or parallel relation of the cap and gasket with that portion of the tumbler-rim on which the gasket is to be seated and compressed, which is an important feature in a closure of this character.

This invention is here shown applied to the sealing of an ordinary glass tumbler as a good example of a receptacle well adapted to a variety of household uses after its original pur- This support also flaring cap for compressing and wedging the gasket upon the inner edge of the tumbler-rim.

Figures 1 and 2 of the drawings are enlarged fragmentary side views in section of a tumbler, its gasket, cap, and support, Fig. 1 showing the parts in the position occupied by them during the air expelling or exhausting operation, while Fig. 2 shows the cap pushed down to its sealed position. Fig. 3 is a side view in smaller scale, partially in section, of a tumbler, cap, and gasket in their sealed condition.

The gasket-support is made in the form of an annular band or ring which rests upon the tumbler-rim and supports the gasket concentrically with and in proper sealing relation to the inner edge of the tumbler-rim. This gasket-support also preferably engages with the upper portion of the sealing-cap, so as to centralize that cap with the gasket and tumbler.

in the embodiment of this invention shown in the drawings the outer ring 27 has a supporting and centering shoulder or ledge 29, which is adapted to rest upon the outer edge of the rim 42 ofthe tumbler s1 and preferably conforms approximately thereto. The gasketseat 30 on the interior of the outer ring may also conform approximately to the contour of l the gasket 31 and supports the gasketabove and In the i present invention this dilliculty is met by proconcentrically with that portion of the rim of the tumbler upon which it is desired to compress it by the sealing operation. portion 22 of the interior cap 21 rests upon the gasket 31 and serves to compress the gasket upon the inner rim of the tumbler and wedge it against that rim, as shown in Figs. .2 and 3. The upper portion 23 of the cap is preferably formed to engage the edge or upper portion 28 of the outer ring, and thus serve to centralize the cap with the tumbler-rim and the gasket. An important function of the ring 27 is that of surrounding, protecting. and externally reinforcing the upper edge of the tumbler-rim, especially against the outward pressure due to the wedging action of the closure, which in the absence of such protection would be liable to split or burst the tumbler open. The downward atmospheric pressure upon the sealing-cap 21 operates to force the gasket 31 downwardly against its seat 30 in the supporting-ring 27, thereby holding the latter down firmly upon and around the outer edge of the tumbler-rim,

pose as a sealed package has been served and thus directly sustaining that edge on the outside against the outward strain applied to the is here shown in connection with the use of a The flaring inner edge of the rim by the wedging presl fied by making the central web portion appurtenant to the upper edge of the flange 23 instead of being appurtenant to the lower edge, as herein shown, thus presenting a flatter top in place of the depressed top shown in the drawings.

In many other ways which will be obvious to those familiar with this art the invention herein shown may be modified to suit different types of receptacles or to meet different conditions of service.

In my prior application, Serial No. 193,705, filed February 15, 1904:, I have shown, described, and claimed a closure broadly similar to that shown in this application, in that it embodies the combination with a plain-rimmed receptacle and a gasket, of a flaring cap for compressing the gasket at an inclination against an edge of the receptacle-rim, and a gasket-support separate from the cap provided with means for positioning the gasket in sealing relation to the said edge of the receptacle-rim. My present application, so far as it shows and relates to the said devices shown in my said prior application, does so for the purpose of claiming specific novel constructions and combinations and is a subordinate application to that above mentioned in respect of the said features.

I claim as my invention 1. The combination with a hermeticallysealed receptacle having a gasket, of a separate outer support for positioning the gasket in sealing relation to the receptacle.

2. The combination with a receptacle, of a gasket, a flaring cap and a separate gasketsupport provided with means for positioning the gasket in sealing relation to the inner edge of the rim of the receptacle.

3. The combination with a receptacle, a gasket and a flaringcap, of a separate gasket-support provided with means for supporting the gasket in sealing relation to the inner edge of the receptacle-rim and with means for guiding the cap in concentric relation with the gasket and receptacle during its sealing movement.

4. The combination with a receptacle, of a hermetic closure therefor comprising a gasket, a sealing-cap, and a separate gasket-sup port exterior to the cap and gasket for supporting the gasket in sealing relation to the rim of the receptacle.

5. The combination with a receptacle, of a wedging hermetic closure therefor, comprising a gasket, a flaring cap for compressing the gasket at an angle against the inner edge of the rim of the receptacle, and a separate external support for positioning the gasket in sealing relation to the inner edge of the receptacle-rim.

6. The combination with a receptacle, ofa wedging hermetic closure therefor, comprising a gasket, a cap provided with means for compressing the gasket at an angle against the inner edge of the receptacle-rim, and a separate gasket-support for positioning the gas ket in sealing relation to the inner edge of thereceptacle-rim.

7. A wedging closure for hermeticallysealed receptacles comprising a gasket, a cap provided with means for compressing the gasket at an angle against the inner edge of the receptacle-rim, and a separate outer support and guide provided with means for positioning the gasket in sealing relation to the inner edge of the receptacle-rim and with means for positioning and guiding the cap in concentric relation with the gasket and receptacle-rim.

8. The combination with a receptacle, of an outwardly-pressing wedging closure therefor, and a supporting-ring encircling the rim of the receptacle and reinforcing it against the outward pressure.

9. The combination with a receptacle, of a supporting-ring resting upon and encircling the rim of said receptacle, and provided with means for positioning the gasket upon the rim, and a sealing-cap for wedging the gasket out: wardly at an angle against the inner edge of the receptacle-rim, coincidently pressing the supporting-ring downwardly upon and around the receptacle rim to reinforce the latter against the outward pressure of the wedging closure.

10. The combination with a plain-rimmed receptacle, of a supporting-ring encircling and resting upon the outer edge of the receptacle-rim and provided with means for receiving and positioning a gasket, anda wedging closure therefor comprising a gasket and a sealing-cap provided with means for compressing the gasket outwardly at an angle WILLIAM A. LORENZ.

WVitnesses:

JAs. W. GREEN, CAROLINE M. BREOKLE. 

